The FBI is considering an investigation into an alleged altercation between Brad Pitt and one of his children on a private plane.

Pitt's wife Angelina Jolie filed for divorce on Monday, citing irreconcilable differences, and has asked for physical custody of the couple's six children.

According to reports, Pitt had been drinking at the time of the incident and s everal media outlets, using anonymous sources, have reported that the Ocean's Eleven star is under investigation by a child welfare agency after allegedly clashing with one of his children, reportedly his adopted 15-year-old son Maddox.

In a statement, the FBI said allegations involving an "aircraft carrying Mr Brad Pitt and his children" had been referred to the agency.

"The FBI is continuing to gather facts and will evaluate whether an investigation at the federal level will be pursued," it added.

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating Pitt.

Meanwhile, a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokeswoman said: "The LAPD is not handling any reports or allegations into child abuse against Mr Brad Pitt."

A spokesman for the force later said that a report of an incident on a plane involving Pitt had been passed to the FBI, but refused to confirm any details about the allegations.

Pitt was on a plane that landed at the International Falls, Minnesota, airport on September 14, local sheriff Perryn Hedlund said.

Jolie, 41, and Pitt, 52, known collectively as Brangelina, married in 2014 after 10 years together.

Jolie's lawyer Robert Offer said the actress had filed for the dissolution of the marriage "for the health of the family".

In legal documents filed with the Los Angeles Superior Court, the Maleficent star asked for physical custody of the couple's children - Maddox, Pax, 12, Zahara, 11, Shiloh, 10 and eight-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. She also filed for Pitt to be granted child visitation rights and to share legal custody of the children.

Jolie is being represented by divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who helped in her divorce from Billy Bob Thornton and has represented Johnny Depp in his divorce from Amber Heard.

In a statement following news of the divorce, Pitt said he was "very saddened" and "what matters most now is the well-being of our kids".

The couple first met when they played married spies in the film Mr And Mrs Smith, when Pitt was still married to Friends star Jennifer Aniston.

Jolie was previously married to Thornton and British actor Jonny Lee Miller.